Hey trail user it's reviews like your that I absolutely love to read!! Some people are so clueless as to compare one show to another and all that critical b.s. l love to read about shows that people were at! The vibe, the scene, the song selection, it just makes my tears well up and gives me chills to really feel what it was like to be in the presence of the awesome spectacle that was a Grateful Dead show. I caught many shows from '89 to '94 and the experiences I had changed my life so much for the better! This run is so legendary, I have been checking each night out on the day they were played and feeling grateful that we still have the music to take us to that magic place whenever we need it. Bless up and Give Thanks!

I was at this and while I agree that the show certainly was played well, it was the weakest of the three night run. No break out songs and nothing surprising, but a great time nonetheless. However, it was the last She Belongs to Me that I heard and that was a bummer.

Average, clunky, sloppy?

I guess you had to be there.

Gimme Some Lovin' a disaster? Really?

Then I wonder why Rhino picked The Wheel > Gimme Some Lovin' to go on the So Many Roads Box Set? (Rhino only decided against it, according to David Gans, because of some minor technical flaw in the soundboard recording).

Everybody who attended this run agreed that they peaked on this night. They were playing with an incomparable synergy and the sounds was perfectly mixed after settling in during the Minglewood. The Friend blew everyone's mind... Brent's keys make your spine tingle. And then Jerry just slays the crowd. "Start out running but I'll take my time". 5 star Friend into a 5 star Cassidy. Check out how tight the band is on Cassidy. What an amazing version.

The Second Set was seamless crackling energy, everybody checked in, awesome songs, Jerry's guitar loud in the mix, huge Phil bombs (check out Phil on the Saint > Terrapin transition and Throwing Stones.. Yowza!), incredible drums > space, Bobby's black strat (pre-Alembic days) adding the perfect rhythmic textures...

I guess you had to be there. Or at least listen to the music with an open mind. To even mention Cornell 77 on this page is just weak and lazy. "Couldn't you try just a little bit harder.."

This show exemplifies the genius of Brent Mydland. Check out the Terrapin outro jam and the trippy tingly keys right before they launch into China Cat and during the Lost Sailor.. great stuff). These rich lush sonic textures did not exist in 1977, sorry dude.

I guess you had to be there. I actually was there. On a full 125. At the front of the shallow steps in front of the thrones. Saturday evening at 5 pm on June 15 at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California. Eucalyptus perfuming the air, sunlight dappling through the trees, girls twirling, dudes bopping, what a completely incredible vibe.

Being a 5 clock show it transitioned from light to dark after the drums. Jerry came out and encored with She Belongs To Me. When he sang "take the dark out of the nighttime and paint the daytime black" the crowd gasped.. again, the perfect synergy between lyrics and environment. I still get goose bumps to this day when I listen to this exemplary, stellar, incredible Dylan cover from this beautiful amazing show.

I have to agree with the reviewer below that this is a pretty average show in a great year. The weakest of the 20th anniversary shows IMO.

The first set is very short and most of it is throw away versions of decent songs. Touch and Minglewood are both a bit sloppy but things pick up with a sweet rendition of Fried of the Devil followed by an excellent, albeit short version of Cassidy. Dupree's is a nice surprise and this is a competent performance. Big River is the only other highlight of this short set. Very hot with lots of energy and great soloing.

Set 2 starts off much better but quickly goes downhill. China>Rider kicks things off nicely and is one of the highlights of the show. The transition jam is a bit brief but is very well played. Jerry's headlight line is well delivered and the Rider jam is excellent with several Phil bombs. The Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance starts off promising with some passionate vocals by Bobby but Jerry's playing is a bit off, especially during the finale. Next is a clunky version of Terrapin that has spotty vocals and flubs throughout. It does however have a nice jam in the outro. Drums are interesting in the beginning ut soon turn into an average drum solo. Space is decent but a minute and a half in you can tell that the Wheel is next. It's a short version with a decent transition into an average Gimme Some Lovin'. This song is always fun and this one has lots of Phil bombs but the vocals here are very suspect. Throwing Stones>NFA ends a second set that is severely lacking in songs with jams. The She Belongs To Me encore is a nice touch. Overall, this show is kind of weak with few highlights, resulting in the least interesting show of this run.

...pretty average. A spotty show with very good sound quality. I'm a big '85 fan, but this show seems average to below average to me. Some good moments, like the sailor>saint, she belongs to me and us blues (did i just say that--but really jerry tears it up), but terrapin is clunky and flacid and gime some lovin' is a disaster. the first set is fairly unremarkable, as has been mentioned. of course, all that being said, i'd give alot for the chance to see them play even a clunker show like this one more time.

This was an okay show, which I don't find often in 1985. Even so, it's a bit sloppy at times. Nothing really stuck out at me positively or negatively.

I got a hold of a copy of this tape in about 1987 from the cook at a restaurant I worked at. I guess he decided I was worthy, and I thank you Jack! You can't listen to set two and ever turn back can you? That was it for me. Hook, line and sinker. I have since been through several copies of this on tape. There is so much good energy here and it FLOWS all the way through. Wheel out of space is one of my faves, and I must agree with someone else's comment that she belongs to me makes any set special. If you want to turn someone on to the boys that don't get it, let them listen to this one. If they can't hear the sparkling energy coming through this second set, they just might never get it...

I would have to agree with a previous reviewer who complimented the second set. Very high energy, quick moving set, with very little flubs. Lots of Brent riffs, generally high vocal form. Even though only one song breaks the 10 minute mark we still feel a good energy which makes up for less extended jams. The decline of Jerry is NOT felt here. Oh and any show with she belongs to me is immediatly made better for that reason.

Good Dead is about good communication, which I think is all over 85 and 86.... actually every year of the Dead is full of good communication. The band hits bad notes every now and then, but then they wouldn't be the Dead if they did not take chances. "Casual music fans" don't (typically) comprehend the beauty of improvisation and thus should take caution when swimming with the Dead.

rather than listening to it? this whole june 85 til mid 86 is smoking hot. a must have. hank hill sez this show rocks i'll tell ya whut. oh btw, "casual music fans" do not listen to this music. you dont like it, dont listen, but some of us that were there like to look back fondly without know nothings spouting off about that which they know nothing, hence the term know nothings.

I don't know how people can listen to Jerry sing during this era and not cringe. He sounds absolutely terrible. Sure the sound quality of this show is good and Jerry's playing is on, but I just can't get past his raspy, out-of-tune, out-of-time singing. If I played this to any casual music fan they'd be like "What the fuck?" If you can somehow ignore Jerry's near death experience here, then by all means take a listen. But I'll take a pass.

Awesome '85 show, great mix, lots of Phil. Easily one of the most inspiring versions of Terrapin. Jerry's haggard voice adds a level of emotion to the song that's very rarely present. Great show.

This is one of the best shows i've ever heard, and the sound quality is superb. Go back and carefully listen to the end portion of sailor into saint, they're so unbelievably tight. Coupled with the effects they were using that night, and the quality of the sound, a spiritual experience indeed. I'm extremely thankful to all the people who make it possible to listen to these shows, God bless them and The Greatful Dead

This show was smokeing the whole set list is hot Touch cassidy duprees smking 2 set hot china rider sailor saint we were on a big rll Terripin kicking ass She belongs too me out standing Us Blues verry hot second encore ya what a night

Yes I used to be one of those 'All of '85 SUCKS' guys but thanks to good, persistent friends, I have slowly come to see the light! This second set is fantastic with the highlights for me being the Lost Sailor -> Saint and, my personal favorite moment, She Belongs to Me. Just a pristine version, one for the ages. The first set is good, but the second set is where it's really at, IMO. If you are 'Anti '85' I would highly recommend giving this show - especially the 2nd set - a listen.

All I can say is if you want to download a show with rockin' tunes played really tight and with a lot of energy, here's the show. The transitions and playing are flawless and the band slowed down for "Lost Sailor" but the rest of the second set is all up tempo....even the Drums/Space rips at high speed. The Oade audience is great too but it's more difficult to hear Brent's "accidental" intro into "China Cat". If the show needs verification, the band does two encores. One of the funnest times I ever had at a show.

Second set absolutely sparkles. Terrific sound. Don't bother with the first, rather flacid set. The transition from Space to the Wheel is just beautiful.

This is one the best 85 sbd's I've heard. Grab it.

It's reassuring to see others besides myself have happily enjoyed burning this one into their synapses over the past twenty years - the goose bumps never end. From Bobby "living" the part in Sailor>Saint and Phil's bombs you know it must've been a party. All players are On in this one!

This whole 2nd set is sweet!
One of my favorite China>Riders!
Sailor>Saint is beautifully played as well
Sound = A
Scores a 4 because the first set isn't as tight

The rendition of She Belongs To Me is just brilliant. Garcia sings the words with grace and ease and really nails the tune. Amazing!

I think his covers of Bob Dylan are amoung the best of any artist, period. Tangled Up In Blue. (Its all over now) Baby Blue. Simple Twist of Fate. Senior. Positively Fourth Street. Visions of Johanna. The list goes on. . . . . .

back in 88, I got a crispy AUD source of this show and loved every minute of it for a year. I then came across a spectacular SBD, like this one, and-the impetuousness of youth, I suppose-I taped over my AUD source.

After a close listen I realized what a mistake I had made. The board had poor pitch, and I am sad to say this one does as well, at least to my ears. I made the mistake of DL-ing it over the Oade sourceand was sadly disappointed. I am going back to the Oade source. Just my opinion, but if you don't mind wasting a couple CDR's, compare for yourself and you'll see what I mean.

Performance-wise, the second set is one of the most wonderful things that the Dead have given us... enjoy it!

For those of you who love this Cina/Rider, go check out 12/1/79. http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=11436 . The recording is a bit much on the high end but listen anyway.

The second set of this show ranks high amongst the finest I ever heard and I have listened to most of them. From the cool china cat intro that Brent pulls off to the end of the SECOND encore, this show is amazing and unique. There are som many moments of this show that are exceptional that it is hard to hit them all. The I know You Rider will blow your head off. The last note is a Phil bomb (one of the many this night) and goes right into Lost Sailor. This is the tightest and my favorite version of Sailor/Saint. It is dramatic and soulful. Terrapin is just plain crushing. The drums portion of the show was spectacular with Mickey and Billy just plain ON! The transition into Gimme Some Lovin is increadible. It is hard to comprehend how on-fire the band was to pull this off. This show is a MUST have for anyone that loves the Dead's music. Get the second set of this show. You will listen to it countless times and find something new that you love about it each time. Listen loud! Sound quality is very good.

Not as good as the rest of the year - not trying to ruffle some feathers out there and no doubt a hot one just does not have that certain something that the other 5's later in the year had...

The outro from Sailor to Saint is the trippiest I've ever heard. Brent and Healy (screwing around with Bobby's vocals) really shine here. Check it out with headphones.

This is without question my favorite China->Rider of the post '72 era. The sound of this board is orgasmic, with PHAT Phil bass and a great balance throughout. Also my pick for the best Touch of Gray ever.
LP

This show was played on the day I was born, and The Dead must've known that a deadhead had entered the world, because they really tore the place down. Terrapin!!!! My favorite song played on the day I was born. Must've been an omen.

IF you want to hear what a well played show sounds like....THIS IS IT. Forget the unusual setlists and the big emotional hits. Tight consistent smooth playing. I'm with ya redbones, there are not many of these. It's like that beer comercial sez...."deceptively smooth yet refreshing":)

I have always loved this show. It was one of my first clean tapes, and one of the first shows I "shn'd" when the I got into burning shows. The second set is fantastic - one of the best of the 80's. No unusual songs or interesting selection, just the standards played amazingly well. China -> Rider roars, Sailor Saint is perfectly executed, and Terrapin rises to the occassion. Even Throwin Stones -> NFA is played very well here, probably the best version I've heard of this (too) often played duo. She Belongs to Me? Picture perfect, and can move me to tears. Ah, Jerry.........

"as the sun goes down and the fog rises" - Bobby

I have to admit that 6.15 wasn't the first thing I ran for when all of this stuff came up on Archive but this was just pure oversight on my part.

My brother Peter writes:

6.15.85

china>rider,Sailor>Saint, terrapin
it's all i listen to
it's the best
it's really a journey
the 5:00 minute mark in rider
is where it really breaks loose

We'll let all that speak for itself. She Belongs to me is great and Dupree's shouldn't be overlooked in the first set.